Windlass



J. S. JONES.

' WINDLAss.

(No Model.)

No. 463,057. Patented Nov. 1o, 1891.

`UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES SAMUEL JONES, OF CRUTCIIFIELD, KENTUCKY.

WINDLAS-S.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 463,057, dated November 10, 1891.

Application filed J'uly 28,1891.

' cation.

This invention relates to hoisting, and lnore especially to the hand-crank-operated wind-v lasses therein; and the object of the same is to produce an improved device of this char` acter, which may be used for a. number of;

purposes, as' for hoisting wagon-beds or for stretching Wire.

To this end the invention consists in the specific .details of construction hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and as illustrated on the sheet of drawings,wherein- Figure 1 is a general perspective view show ing the adaptability of my device for hoisting a wagon-bed. Fig. 2 is an enlarged central longitudinal section of the windlass and the cleat, showing the former as locked in the latter. Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the manner in which the device is used as a wirestretcher. Fig. 4 is an end elevation showing the pawl and ratchet. Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of the claw.

Referring to the said drawings, l designates the body of my improved Windlass, whose innerv end 2 is turned down and provided with a hole 3, whose outer end has an upturned hook 4, and from which body rise uprights 5 hav ing eyes 6. In said eyes is journaled the main shaft 7, having a crank-handle 8 turning around the outer end of the body, and on this shaft between the uprights is secured the spool 9 having end ianges 10, the body of the spool having a fastening-eye 11 near one of the flanges.

l2 is a bracket adapted to be secured beneath the rear end of a wagon-body when this device is to be used for'hoisting the same, and this bracket has a cleat 13 depending from its center and having an inwardly-curving face 14, from which rises a pin 15, of a size adapted to enter the hole 3 in the body l. To connect these parts the body is inclined, its inner end passed through the cleat 13 until the hole 3 engages the pin 15, and the body then raised to a horizontal position, as seen Serial No.400,93l (No model.)

in Fig. 2, when the parts will be securely locked together.

2O is a ratchet-wheel keyed or fastened on the main shaft 7, and 21 is a pawl pivoted at 22 in one of the uprights 5, just beneath the ratchet-wheel 20, as shown. The other end of this pawl is weighted, as at 23, and is of such size and shape that it normally holds the tip in engagement With one of the teeth. Still, should the device receive a sudden jar sufficient to dislocate this tip, the weighted end will be thrown into the path of the then rapidly-moving teeth, and will be struck by one of them, whereby the tip will be positively caused to engage the next tooth. This pawl retains the spool against a retrograde movement as the crankhandle is turned; but when it is desired to unwind or reversethe motion of the windlass the ratchet is turned slightly forward and the pawl operated by hand, so as to disengage its tip and Vto pass its weighted end between two of the teeth, (as seen in dotted lines in Fig. 4,) thereby turning the pawl until it is reversed and completely out of engagement with the ratchet, and the crank is then slowly turned in the opposite direction, thereby letting the wagonbed down onto the running-gear.

A windlass of this character is useful for a variety of purposes, one of whichl have illustrated in Fig. l, to wit: Pulleys or sheaves 25 are secured to the rafters of a Wagon-shed or to any other suitable supports, and a rope 26 is passed over the same, one end being connected with the front of a wagon-body 27 and the other end being passed through the fastening-eye -11 and secured therein, as by knotting it. The body being secured in the bracket l2 beneath the wagon-bed 27, and the free end of the rope being connected with the front end of the bed, the crank-handle 8 can be manipulated to raise the bed oft" the runninggear'in a manner which will be clear. Y When raised, the pawl and ratchet will hold the bed against falling accidentally at any time, and

when it is desired to again lower it the pawl is turned over and the windlass unwound, as above described.

' When this device is to be used for tightening fence-wires, a chain 28, having a ring 29 at one end, is passed around the fence-post 30,

IOO

L ened is simply passed between the fingers if it be a barbed wire, and if it be a plain wire it is given a half-turn around the body of the claw and then passed between the fingers, and to tighten the wire the crank-handle is turned and the device is operated practically in the same manner as above described.

The parts of this machine are preferably of iron, and are proportioned and shaped as may be found necessary and desirable in the manufacture and use of the device.

The device is simple and easy of operation and costs but little to make the machine.

I do not limit myself to the exact details of construction, as various changes maybe made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What is claimed as new isl. In a -windlass, the combination, with a body having a downturned inner end provided with a hole, uprights on said body, a crank-shaft journaled in said uprights, and a spool on said shaft, of a bracket having a depending cleat with a rearwardly-inclined inner face, and a pin rising from said face and adapted to engage the hole in the body, as and for the purpose set forth.

' 2. In a wndlass, the combination, with a body having a downturned inner end provided with a hole, uprights on said body, a crank-shaft journaled in said uprights, a ratchet and a spool on said shaft, and a U- shaped pawl pivoted at its bend to one upright and having one weighted end holding the tip of the other end normally in engagement with said ratchet, the weighted end being shorter than the distance between said lpivot and the bottom of the ratchet-teeth, of

a bracket having a depending cleat with a rearwardly-inclined inner face, and a pin rising from said face and adapted to engage the hole in the body, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a windlass, the combination, with a crank-shaft j ou rnaled in upriglits and a spool on said shaft, of a ratchet-wheel on the shaft and a pawl beneath the ratchet pivoted to an upright, thel tip of the pawl normally engagi-ng the teeth of the ratchet, the pawl having at the other side of its pivot a weighted body, which is of a size and shape to be struck by the teeth as the ratchet reverses and which may be passed manually bet-Ween two of the teeth as the ratchet moves forwardly, whereby the pawl may be completely disengaged from the ratchet, as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES SAMUEL JONES. WVitnesses:

J. INI. BRAIM, J No. P. TyLER. 

